TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Arizona climbed 23 spots in the eighth annual "Military Times Best: Colleges 2018" rankings, placing 51st out of 218 ranked colleges and universities.

The UA's high military enrollment, 15-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, 75 percent retention rate and its four-star rating in extracurricular activities contributed to its improvement in the 2018 rankings. The UA debuted at No. 74 last year.

"I am extremely proud of the University's appearance in the Military Times ranking," said UA President Robert C. Robbins. "We respect and admire the dedication of our nation's armed service members, and the UA community believes it is our duty to provide top-notch transition and support services for our veterans."

The UA was one of a few schools to have signed on to all three major military and veterans education agreements: "Principles of Excellence," "8 Keys to Veterans' Success" and the most recent Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding. The UA also received a four-star rating in its GI Bill gap coverage, which rates how well schools reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket tuition costs for post-9/11 GI Bill users.

"Of the hundreds of schools that applied, fewer than half received the Military Times Best: Colleges designation this year. Only the best made the cut," said George Altman, the Military Times editor in charge of the rankings. "For the past eight years, we've seen colleges and universities consistently increasing their resources, revising their policies and improving their academic outcomes for military and veteran students. The Military Times Best: Colleges rankings showcase the very best of these efforts."

Military Times' annual Best Colleges survey asks colleges and universities to document an array of services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties. Survey recipients also are asked to describe a variety of aspects pertaining to veterans culture on a campus.

Military Times also factors in data from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments, as well as three Education Department sources: the IPEDS Data Center, College Scorecard data and the Cohort Default Rate Database.

Established in 1885, the University of Arizona, the state's super land-grant university with two medical schools, produces graduates who are real-world ready through its 100% Engagement initiative. Recognized as a global leader and ranked 16th for the employability of its graduates, the UA is also a leader in research, bringing more than $606 million in research investment each year, and ranking 21st among all public universities. The UA is advancing the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships, and is a member of the Association of American Universities, the 62 leading public and private research universities. It benefits the state with an estimated economic impact of $8.3 billion annually.